Volunteers needed for ‘wild’ programme in South Africa

Kim Houghton, an RVN living and working in South Africa, is inviting VNs, SVNs and veterinary students to volunteer in South Africa on a truly diverse veterinary programme.

Running from February to November, Wild Inside Adventures gives VNs, SVNs and students the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of veterinary work in rugged, unspoiled coastline setting.

Main areas

Based on the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape, the programme encompasses four main areas of veterinary work:

• African wildlife – including darting and relocation, and treatment of injured wildlife.
• Community outreach in local communities – treating dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep and goats with no other access to veterinary care.
• Clinical work in a mixed practice – including shadowing vets, observing surgeries and assisting with patient care.
• Farm work with agricultural livestock – including ectoparasite and endoparasite control, pregnancy testing, artificial insemination and herd health.

Learning opportunity

Ms Houghton, who is the driving force behind Wild Inside Adventures, said: “The programme provides a great learning opportunity for student vets and student nurses, and I have found that qualified nurses also love the experience due to some areas of the veterinary work being so different from their day-to-day jobs.

“Each aspect of the programme offers something different – from the unique experience and adrenaline rush of darting wildlife to the rewarding work our volunteers do in local communities.

“Each day is different and tailored to the experience levels of participants, so everyone gets a chance to use their skills and to learn new ones.”

For more information, email Miss Houghton via wildinsideadventures@gmail.com or visit the programme’s website.